Kylie Minogue – Padam Padam
For followers of: Ava Max, Eurovision, all of the fake-sounding RuPaul songs
Padam Padam, the primary single from Kylie Minogue’s forthcoming sixteenth album Stress, has confirmed as inescapable (and about as delicate) as an airborne virus. The observe has been topic to a whole lot of memes and hundreds of textual content messages from mums to their homosexual sons: “What’s ‘padam’?”
The memes, mixed with the overt ridiculousness of the entire affair – a dead-serious Eurodance observe constructed across the onomatopoeic sound of a heartbeart – have pushed Padam Padam to Kylie’s highest singles chart placement in over a decade. Fortunately, the hypnotic, deeply unusual tune is well worth the hype, paying homage to the 1997 Towa Tei collab German Bold Italic, one other observe that made nice use of Kylie singing lyrics that had been principally gibberish. To borrow a phrase from the UK charts company: it’s a Padamic! – Shaad D’Souza
For extra: Hearken to 2020’s underrated Disco (Visitor Record Version). Kylie’s new album Stress is out this September.
Jack Howard – Had been You Born to be Alive?
For followers of: Hunters & Collectors, Midnight Oil
Final yr Jack Howard, the long-serving trumpet participant for the traditional pub rock band Hunters & Collectors, launched a startling electronica album known as Lightheavyweight 2. It was a world away from his better-known materials, however this swinging mid-tempo anthem returns him to extra acquainted territory. The lyrics commerce in ironic footy cliches – “Did you come to play? / Had been you a credit score to the boys?” – however the large brass traces of the refrain elevate it as much as extra ecstatic territory. – Andrew Stafford
For extra: Howard is a prolific soloist: try Canine Songs (2020), Lightheavyweight (2018) and Lightheavyweight 2 (2022). He’s additionally the writer of the wonderful memoir, Small Moments of Glory.
Genesis Owusu – Leaving the Mild
For followers of: 9 Inch Nails, TV on the Radio, Odd Future
What do you get whenever you cross an insistent bass line paying homage to 90s video video games with industrial, hip-hop and punk influences? Regardless of the query, Genesis Owusu is the reply. It’s been nice enjoyable watching the rise and rise of the chameleonic Canberra musician since his eclectic debut album, 2021’s Smiling With No Tooth, and this hurtling single from his follow-up is simply as thrilling. Whether or not rapping, singing or one thing in between, Owusu’s versatile vocal type crosses genres with ease. – Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen
For extra: Genesis Owusu’s second album, Struggler, is launched 18 August. He excursions nationally in December.
Alex Lahey – You’ll By no means Get Your Cash Again
For followers of: Tegan and Sara, Liz Phair, Physique Kind
When a breakup left Lahey feeling emotionally and financially ripped off, Melbourne’s premier purveyor of energy pop cashed in on her heartbreak with a ripper of a tune. “Give all you’ve gotten, get nothing again / Love by no means leaves you within the black,” Lahey belts within the refrain to this observe off her assured third document. It’s right here for a very good time, not a very long time – a brief, sharp hit of catharsis and chutzpah that’s up there with Lahey’s hookiest. – Janine Israel
For extra: Lahey’s third album, The Reply is All the time Sure, is out now. She’s touring Australia in August.
Demise Bells – Take My Spirit Now
For followers of: Iceage, Diiv
Take My Spirit Now, the tough, windburnt new single from Sydney outfit Demise Bells, captures a novel sort of catharsis. Far much less linear than something on the band’s 2022 album Between Right here & All over the place, it’s a swell of hyperkinetic drums and decaying guitar traces, every half bouncing off the opposite like twin magnet poles compelled collectively. It’s an endurance train, every new fragment of the tune buffeting away at you till you attain, lastly, a sanctified conclusion: “Take my spirit now,” the band sings, “Steal my soul.” – Shaad D’Souza
For extra: Hearken to their final document Between Right here & All over the place, or 2020’s New Indicators of Life.
Monnie – These days
For followers of: Mallrat, Charli XCX, Slayyyter
Monica Sottile’s songs scent like chewing gum and nail polish. Over simply three tracks as Monnie, the Brisbane-born, Melbourne-based pop ingenue has normal the sort of fantasy land most musicians can solely dream of – a universe the place puffed-up macho males get their comeuppance by way of artful kiss-offs, the place there’s a BFF ready behind each nook to flick away your insecurities like a hair toss. On her new single These days, she sings in regards to the thrumming jitters of an interstate transfer with the unvarnished candidness of a late-night landline dialog. Anxiousness by no means sounded so dishy. – Michael Solar
For extra: Monnie’s EP, additionally titled These days, is out 23 June.
Rin McArdle – One thing Blue (feat Georgia Maq)
For followers of: Waxahatchee, Angie McMahon, Courtney Barnett
Rin McArdle channels the good Americana songwriting custom on her evocative new single. With easy components – largely constructed on the identical 4 chords – the Melbourne-via-Adelaide multi-instrumentalist paints a putting image, elevated along with her plaintive vocals. Georgia Maq, chief of just lately disbanded indie-punk favourites Camp Cope, provides her distinctive voice to the fold within the second verse, earlier than the 2 swirl collectively in spine-tingling concord. Brutal and bruising, there’s each harm and therapeutic right here. – Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen
For extra: Rin McArdle performs Melbourne’s Outdated Bar on 22 June and releases her self-titled debut album on 28 July.
Insurgent Yell, Black Dahlia – TNT
For followers of: Marie Davidson, Peaches, Boy Harsher
There’s something splendidly claustrophobic about this new lower by Melbourne-based digital artist Insurgent Yell and Berlin producer Black Dahlia. With industrial percussion, chanting vocals and booming, icy synths, the pair sing about liberating themselves from domination, lastly overcoming a marsh of constrictive energy relations. This isn’t a transfer to be made quietly or subtly – as an alternative, their demand of liberation entails explosive and ignited fury, utilizing the story of King Kong as a template. – Isabella Trimboli
For extra: Hearken to Insurgent Yell’s 2020 document Fall From Grace.
David Bridie – Sympathetic Martin
For followers of: Sleaford Mods, Speaking Heads, Public Service Broadcasting
Bridie is prolific: he was a founding member of the teams My Pal the Chocolate Cake and Not Drowning, Waving, and has created in depth work as a movie composer. This primary single from his upcoming spoken-word solo album follows within the rich tradition of music celebrating suburban nihilism in Melbourne’s north, as Bridie ruminates on assorted native characters – the “heroes of our fashionable life” who “don’t imagine in Das Kapital any extra” – whereas he roams streets that reek of “Kentucky Fried fats fumes”. There’s an inexplicable pleasure right here, with melodious vocal interludes threatening, in the very best method, to interrupt into REM’s Belong. – Janine Israel
For extra: Bridie’s new album, It’s Been a Whereas Since our Final Correspondence, is out now and options unique spoken-word items by 13 Australian storytellers put to music. Bridie is touring Australia now.
Simona Castricum – Restricted Version
For followers of: Depeche Mode, Laura Jean, early Ministry
Simona Castricum has been a stalwart of Melbourne’s digital scene for many years, and this new single off her forthcoming document Sink, is an excellent, brooding slice of techno-pop. The tune is filled with propulsive 80s drums and synths, undercut with melancholic, ethereal vocals – together with contributions with pop vocalist m8riarchy. It’s sufficient to place you in a trance: extremely catchy and sure to be successful on native dancefloors. – Isabella Trimboli
For extra: Castricum’s album Sink is out 14 July. Within the meantime, take heed to her 2020 album Panic/Need.